Electronic receipt management system

ABSTRACT

A distributed computer system includes a central server, a computing device of a user, and point-of-sale terminals. The central server is configured to assign a global user ID to a user and store, in association with the global user ID, local user IDs. The computing device is configured to generate and display a code symbol representing at least one user ID. A point-of-sale terminal is configured to scan the displayed code symbol and code symbols of merchandise being purchased, and generate transaction information. A local server is configured to transfer the transaction information from the point-of-sale terminal to the central server. When the transaction information includes a local user ID, a point total of the user is updated based on the transaction information and transmitted to the computing device. The central server stores the transaction information, which is received from the local server, in association with the global user ID.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/734,128, filed Jun. 9, 2015, which application is based upon andclaims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2014-119872, filed Jun. 10, 2014, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an electronic receiptmanagement system.

BACKGROUND

An electronic receipt management system typically includes apoint-of-sale (POS) terminal located at a store. The POS terminalgenerates a data of a purchase transaction by a customer at the store,and obtains a customer ID of the customer during the purchasetransaction, for example, through a mobile device carried by thecustomer. Then, the data is transmitted to a communication device ownedby the customer as an electronic receipt, typically through a server. Asa result, the customer can view the electronic receipt on a display unitof the communication device.

On the other hand, currently many stores or a company that operates suchstores implement a reward program to promote sales, and use a customerID unique to the store or the company for the reward program. Typically,a customer needs to provide the customer ID for the reward program tothe store during a purchase transaction.

Therefore, when a customer wants to use the service of the electronicreceipt and participate in the reward program in one purchasetransaction, the store may need to require the customer to provide twodifferent customer IDs. It would be desirable to carry out theelectronic receipt service and the reward program more efficiently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a whole configuration of an electronic receiptmanagement system according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a POS terminal in the electronic receiptmanagement system.

FIG. 3 is memory map of an RAM provided in the POS terminal.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electronic receipt server in theelectronic receipt management system.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an electronic receipt management server inthe electronic receipt management system.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are each a memory map of a storage unit of the electronicreceipt management server.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a portable terminal in the electronicreceipt management system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a control processingcarried out by the POS terminal.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a control processingcarried out by the electronic receipt server.

FIG. 11 illustrates functional blocks generated in the electronicreceipt management server.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a control processingcarried out by the electronic receipt management server.

FIG. 13 illustrates functional blocks generated in the portable terminalaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a control processing ofthe portable terminal carried out by the first embodiment.

FIGS. 15-17 each illustrate an example of a display screen on theportable terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a portable terminal in an electronicreceipt management system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 19 illustrates functional blocks generated in the portable terminalaccording to the second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a control processingcarried out by the portable terminal according to the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to one embodiment, a distributed computer system includes acentral server, a computing device of a user, and point-of-saleterminals. The central server is configured to assign a global user IDto a user and store, in association with the global user ID, local userIDs. The computing device is configured to generate and display a codesymbol representing at least one user ID. A point-of-sale terminal isconfigured to scan the displayed code symbol and code symbols ofmerchandise being purchased, and generate transaction information. Alocal server is configured to transfer the transaction information fromthe point-of-sale terminal to the central server. When the transactioninformation includes a local user ID, a point total of the user isupdated based on the transaction information and transmitted to thecomputing device. The central server stores the transaction information,which is received from the local server, in association with the globaluser ID.

Hereinafter, two embodiments are described with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In each embodiment, an electronic receiptmanagement server is described as an example of an informationprocessing apparatus, and a portable terminal is described as an exampleof a portable terminal device. As an example, reward points are offeredto the customer as a kind of service. In addition, the embodiments arepresented byway of example only, and are not intended to limit the scopeof the invention.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 illustrates the whole configuration of an electronic receiptsystem according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, theelectronic receipt system includes a POS (Point of Sales) terminal 1 anda store server (local server) 2 located in a store P1 such as a shoppingcenter and the like, an electronic receipt server 3 located in aheadquarters P3, an electronic receipt management server (center server)4 located in an electronic receipt center P4, and a portable terminal(computing device) 7 carried by a customer.

The POS terminal 1 is connected to a network N2 through which the storeP1 is connected to the headquarters P3. The network N2 here may be, forexample, a dedicated line such as an internet or a VPN (Virtual PrivateNetwork).

The POS terminal 1 is a commodity sales data processing apparatus forexecuting a commodity sales data processing in the store P1. The POSterminal 1 generates receipt information serving as transaction printinginformation containing contents of a purchase transaction and prints thereceipt information using a printing unit 13 (FIG. 2) to issue a paperreceipt. The POS terminal 1 converts the data format of the unstructuredreceipt information to structured format, which is different from theunstructured format, to generate digitized electronic receiptinformation. The electronic receipt information is obtained byconverting the format of the receipt information to be printed onreceipt paper, to the structured format such as CSV (Comma-SeparatedValues) format or J-son format. The electronic receipt information issent to the electronic receipt management server 4 via the electronicreceipt server 3 and stored in the electronic receipt management server4. The electronic receipt information stored in the electronic receiptmanagement server 4 can be sent to the portable terminal 7 to bebrowsed. The portable terminal 7 displays the electronic receipt in thesame format as the receipt information to be printed on the receiptpaper.

The POS terminal 1 outputs (sends) the generated electronic receiptinformation to the electronic receipt server 3 through the network N2.No specific limitation is given to the method of sending the electronicreceipt information, and for example, a general-purpose protocol such asan HTTP or an HTTPS may be used. Further, no specific limitation isgiven to the number of the POS terminals 1 located in the store P1; forexample, a plurality of POS terminals 1 may be located in the store P1.

The POS terminal 1 calculates reward points that can be redeemed in thestore P1 and correspond to amount or total price of commoditiespurchased by the customer and then offers the reward points to thecustomer. The reward points are sent to and accumulated in the storeserver 2 connected through a communication line N1 such as an LAN (LocalArea Network).

The store server 2 manages the sales at the store P1. The store server 2is connected to the POS terminal 1 through the communication line N1established in the store P1. The store server 2 manages the salesinformation of the store P1 based on the sales information in the POSterminal 1. The store server 2 collects the sales information of eachPOS terminal in the store P1 as settled receipt information. The settledreceipt information refers to the information obtained by collecting thesales information of commodities sold at the store P1 in a predeterminedperiod of time (for example, one day). The settled receipt informationmay indicate the sales information by department or class, in additionto the total sales information in the predetermined period. For example,the settled receipt information may indicate the sales information bythe other various categories, such as payment method and transactiontime.

The store server 2 manages the reward points sent from the POS terminal1 for each customer. When reward points are earned, the store server 2accumulates the earned points, and when the earned reward points areredeemed, the store server 2 subtracts the redeemed points from theaccumulated points. In this manner, the store server 2 functions as apoint server. The function of the point server may be included in adevice other than the store server, such as a headquarters serverlocated in the headquarters of a company that operates the store P1.

The electronic receipt server 3 is located in the headquarters P3 of acompany that runs the store P1, and functions as a receipt managementserver for the company.

The electronic receipt server 3 receives the electronic receiptinformation sent from the POS terminal 1 through the network N2, andthen sends the received electronic receipt information to the electronicreceipt management server 4 through a network N3 that connects theheadquarters P3 and the electronic receipt center P4.

Herein, the network N3 may be, for example, a dedicated line such as aninternet or a VPN. No specific limitation is given to the method ofsending the electronic receipt information, and for example, ageneral-purpose protocol such as an HTTP or an HTTPS may be used.

The electronic receipt management server 4 is located in the electronicreceipt center P4. The electronic receipt center P4 manages theelectronic settlement receipt information and the electronic receiptinformation of multiple companies each of which manages the receiptinformation with the electronic receipt server 3. The electronic receiptcenter P4 is, for example, a third party organization other than thecompany that manages the electronic receipt server 3. Alternatively, theelectronic receipt server 3, as well as the electronic receiptmanagement server 4, may be managed by the third party organization.

The electronic receipt management server 4 functions as a receiptmanagement server for customers and collectively manages the electronicreceipt information of multiple companies that run stores. Theelectronic receipt management server 4 stores/manages, in a membermaster file stored in a database DB, member data such as the name andthe member ID (customer code) of each customer (member) who carried outmember registration, electronic receipt ID (hereinafter referred to asan “SRID” or global customer ID) serving as a unique terminal code foridentifying the portable terminal 7 to which the electronic receiptinformation is to be sent, and sending destination information (forexample, mail address) of the portable terminal 7 serving as the sendingdestination of the electronic receipt information. Further, a membermanagement server and the like may be prepared separately from theelectronic receipt management server 4, to store/manage the member data.

The electronic receipt management server 4 receives the electronicreceipt information sent from the electronic receipt server 3 throughthe network N3 and then stores/manages the received electronic receiptinformation in an electronic receipt information column 43 a 2 (FIG. 6)of an electronic receipt management area 43 a in the database DB. Morespecifically, the electronic receipt information further includes themember ID, and the store information of the store that sends theelectronic receipt information, and the like in addition to the contentof the transaction (commodity sales data), and is managed in associationwith the member data of the corresponding member.

After the electronic receipt information is stored in the electronicreceipt information column 43 a 2, the electronic receipt managementserver 4 identifies the sending destination (portable terminal 7) withreference to the sending destination information associated with themember ID contained in the electronic receipt information. Then theelectronic receipt management server 4 sends, through a network N5, tothe sending destination a message that there is electronic receiptinformation to be sent.

When the electronic receipt management server 4 receives an electronicreceipt inquiry designating a member ID from the portable terminal 7connected through the network N5, the electronic receipt managementserver 4 extracts the electronic receipt information corresponding tothe member ID from the electronic receipt information column 43 a 2 andsends the extracted electronic receipt information to the portableterminal 7. If additional information is associated with the electronicreceipt information, the additional information is also sent to theportable terminal 7 which has sent the inquiry.

The portable terminal 7 is a portable terminal device, such as asmartphone, a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or atablet computer, which is carried and used by the user (customer) of thepresent system. The portable terminal 7 is equipped with an applicationsuch as a Web browser for browsing various kinds of information providedon the network N5.

The portable terminal 7 accesses the electronic receipt managementserver 4 through the network N5 to carry out member registration to thepresent system. Herein, the network N5 is an internet or various publicnetworks.

In the present system, the member registration of the customer forreceiving the electronic receipt information with the portable terminal7 is carried out according to, for example, the following procedure. Thecustomer sends an empty mail from the portable terminal 7 to theelectronic receipt management server 4 through the network N5. Theelectronic receipt management server 4 sends a URL (Uniform ResourceLocator) of a webpage for member registration to the received mailaddress (portable terminal 7). The customer accesses the webpage formember registration from the portable terminal 7 and inputs userinformation (name, sending destination information, and the like)necessary for the member registration on a displayed input screen. Afterthe customer inputs necessary user information, the electronic receiptmanagement server 4 executes member registration to the member masterfile. Sequentially, the electronic receipt management server 4 sends amember registration completion mail including a member ID and a password(tentative password) to the portable terminal 7. In this way, the memberregistration is completed. After the member registration is completed, abarcode converted from the SRID is displayed on a display unit of theportable terminal 7 that logged in.

After the purchase processing (transaction) is carried out at the POSterminal 1, the portable terminal 7 receives, from the electronicreceipt management server 4 through the network N5, a notification thatthe electronic receipt information is ready to be sent from theelectronic receipt management server 4. When the registered memberoperates the portable terminal 7 and sends the inquiry of the electronicreceipt information to the electronic receipt management server 4through the network N5, then the portable terminal 7 receives theelectronic receipt information of the member from the electronic receiptmanagement server 4. Then the portable terminal 7 displays an image ofthe received electronic receipt.

In the electronic receipt system according to the present embodiment,the electronic receipt information indicating the content of thepurchase transaction (settlement) generated, after the commodity salesdata processing is carried out in the POS terminal 1 of the store P1, issent to the electronic receipt management server 4 via the electronicreceipt server 3 and then uploaded on the Web. Thus, the portableterminal 7 equipped with the Web browser can access the URL (UniformResource Locator) to download to the portable terminal 7 the electronicreceipt information uploaded on the Web and then display the downloadedelectronic receipt using the Web browser. Further, a dedicatedapplication for displaying the receipt may be installed on the portableterminal 7, so that the user can browse the receipt.

Next, hardware configuration of main components of the electronicreceipt system according to the first embodiment is described withreference to FIG. 2-FIG. 8.

First, the POS terminal 1 is described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of thePOS terminal 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the POS terminal 1 includes acontrol unit 11 which controls various operations and each unit of thePOS terminal 1. The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central ProcessingUnit) (not shown in FIG. 2), an ROM (Read Only Memory) for storingvarious programs and data (not shown in FIG. 2), an RAM (Random AccessMemory) 11 a for storing various programs temporarily and storingvarious data in a rewritable manner, and an RTC (Real Time Clock) unit(not shown in FIG. 2) that indicates the current date and time.

The control unit 11 is connected to an operation unit 12, the printingunit 13, a display unit 14, a code reading unit 15, a communication I/F16, and a storage unit 17, through a bus line 18.

The operation unit 12 includes various operation keys for an operator tocarryout an input operation. The operation keys include, for example, aclosing key 121 for executing the settlement processing of onetransaction and terminating the transaction, in addition to a numerickey for inputting numerals, a cursor key, and a selection determinationkey for selecting a predetermined item.

The printing unit 13 prints a receipt, a journal, a settlement receipt,an inspection receipt, and the like. The printing unit 13 prints variouskinds of information, such as information of the purchased commodity,payment information generated during the settlement processing,settlement information, and inspection information, on conveyedlong-sized roll paper by, for example, a thermal head including a heatgenerating unit, and then cuts the paper to issue the receipt, journal,settlement receipt, an inspection receipt, and the like

The display unit 14, which is, for example, a liquid crystal display,displays various kinds of information such as name and price of thesales-registered commodity, and total price, change amount, and the likeof one transaction that is settled. The display unit 14 displays variouskinds of information related to the issuing process of the settlementreceipt, the generating and sending process of the electronic settlementreceipt information, and the issuing process of the inspection receipt.The display unit 14 includes a display 14 a for operator for displayingvarious kinds of information to a cashier and a display 14 b forcustomer for displaying various kinds of information to the customer.The display unit 14 may be a touch panel, and in this case, the touchpanel functions as the operation unit 12.

The code reading unit 15 optically reads the code symbol such as abarcode or a two-dimensional code and the like. The code reading unit 15reads, for example, the code symbol attached to a commodity, the codesymbol displayed on the display unit of the portable terminal 7, or atwo-dimensional code symbol prepared near the POS terminal 1. Then thecontrol unit 11 recognizes information contained in the read codesymbol. The code symbol attached to the commodity contains a commoditycode and the like for identifying the commodity. The code symboldisplayed on the portable terminal 7 contains the member ID and the SRIDfor identifying the customer carrying the portable terminal 7.Alternatively, the SRID and the member ID may be magnetically orelectrically stored in the portable terminal 7. In the latter case, thestored SRID and member ID are read through a dedicated reading device.The control unit 11 recognizes the read SRID or member ID. Thetwo-dimensional code symbol contains a store code for identifying thestore.

The control unit 11 connected to the communication I/F (interface) 16through the bus line 18 can be connected to the network N2 through thecommunication I/F 16.

The control unit 11 is connected to the storage unit 17 through the busline 18. The storage unit 17 is an auxiliary storage device such as anHDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive) and the like. Thestorage unit 17 stores a control program 17 a for executing various POSoperations including the commodity sales data processing, settlementprocessing, and inspection processing. The control unit 11 executes theprocessing relating to the receipt information and the commodity salesdata processing, by executing the control program 17 a. The storage unit17 further stores various data files relating to commodity sales dataprocessing, such as a commodity data file in which commodity data, suchas a commodity name, a commodity code, and a unit price, and the like,of each commodity are stored.

The storage unit 17 further stores an electronic receipt generationprogram 17 b for generating the electronic receipt information from thereceipt information. The control unit 11 executes the electronic receiptgeneration program 17 b to convert the unstructured receipt informationinto the structured electronic receipt information, based on theconversion rules recorded in a receipt information schema (not shown).In this way, the control unit 11 generates the electronic receiptinformation from the receipt information.

The electronic receipt information generated by the POS terminal 1includes a member ID, a company code (identification code of a companyrunning a store), a store code, a POS number of the POS terminal 1, areceipt number, commodity sales data (including date and time data), andthe like. A manufacturer of consumer goods sold at the store may acquirepurchase information of the goods at the store from the electronicreceipt information under a specific condition (for example, limitationof specific company running a store, a specific region limitation, aspecific time limitation and the like). The electronic receiptinformation generated by the POS terminal 1 may also include the SRIDfor identifying the portable terminal 7 to which the electronic receiptinformation is to be sent.

The storage unit 17 also stores the POS number for identifying the POSterminal 1 of its own, a company code (identification code of a companyrunning a store), a business type/business style code, a store code(store information) for identifying the store P1, and the like. Thebusiness type/business style code is a code (classification code) fordistinguishing the business type/business style (for example, aconvenience store, a supermarket, a department store, a pharmacy, and arestaurant) of the store. Further, in order to specify each store thatis run by the same company, a different store code is assigned to eachstore. Such a business type/business style can be changed freelyaccording to the preference of a user. The company code (identificationcode of a company running a store) and the business type/business stylecode may be registered in the electronic receipt server 3.

Next, a memory map of the RAM 11 a in the control unit 11 of the POSterminal 1 is described. In FIG. 3, the RAM 11 a includes an SRIDstorage section 11 a 1, a commodity information storage section 11 a 2,a sales information storage section 11 a 3, and a store customer IDstorage section 11 a 4.

The SRID storage section 11 a 1 stores SRIDs and member IDs input fromthe code reading unit 15. The commodity information storage section 11 a2 stores commodity information (commodity code, commodity name, unitprice, attribution information, and the like) read from a commoditymaster file (not shown) based on the commodity code input from the codereading unit 15. The sales information storage section 11 a 3 storessales information, which is information obtained by accumulating andstoring the settlement information and the commodity information of thesettled commodity. The sales information is stored in the salesinformation storage section 11 a 3 during a predetermined period whenthe settlement processing is executed in the POS terminal 1. The storecustomer ID storage section 11 a 4 stores store customer IDs (localcustomer IDs) for identifying the loyalty card that can be used in thestore P1.

The store customer ID is, for example, an ID attached to a loyalty cardthat is uniquely issued by the store and can only be used in the store.If the store customer ID is identified, the loyalty card issued by thestore can be identified. Further, if the store customer ID isidentified, the customer having the loyalty card can be identified. Thestore customer ID is printed on the loyalty card in the form of a codesymbol.

In the present embodiment, the barcode corresponding to the storecustomer ID is displayed on the display unit of the portable terminal 7.The member ID can be input to the POS terminal 1 when the barcodedisplayed on the portable terminal 7 carried by the customer is readthrough the code reading unit 15. Thus, the member ID assigned to theloyalty card can be identified even if the customer carries only theportable terminal 7 without carrying the loyalty card.

Next, hardware configuration of the electronic receipt server 3functioning as a receipt management server for a company is describedwith reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 4. The electronicreceipt server 3 includes a control unit 31 for controlling variousoperations and each unit of the electronic receipt server 3. The controlunit 31 includes a CPU, an ROM for storing various programs and data, anRAM for storing various programs that temporarily stores data or storesdata in a rewritable manner, and an RTC unit that indicates the currentdate and time, and the like.

The control unit 31 can be connected to the network N2 and the networkN3 through a communication I/F 32 connected to a bus line 34. Thecontrol unit 31 is connected to a storage unit 33 through the bus line34.

The storage unit 33 stores the electronic receipt information for acompany running one or more stores, in an electronic receipt managementarea 33 a. The electronic receipt information contains a company code(identification code of a company running a store), a businesstype/business style code, one or more store codes, member IDs of thecustomers, POS numbers of the POS terminals 1, the receipt numbers, thecommodity sales data, and the like. The storage unit 33 further stores acontrol program 33 b for managing the electronic receipt informationstored in the electronic receipt management area 33 a.

Next, hardware configuration of the electronic receipt management server4 functioning as a receipt management server for customers is describedwith reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5,the electronic receipt management server 4 includes a control unit 41for controlling various operations and each unit of the electronicreceipt management server 4. The control unit 41 is includes a CPU, anROM for storing various programs and data, an RAM for storing variousprograms that temporarily store data or stores data in a rewritablemanner, and an RTC unit that indicates the current date and time, andthe like.

The control unit 41 can be connected to the network N3 and the networkN5 through a communication I/F 42 connected to a bus line 44. Thecontrol unit 41 is connected to a storage unit 43 through the bus line44.

The storage unit 43 includes the electronic receipt management area 43a, a control program 43 c, and a customer management area 43 d. Theelectronic receipt management area 43 a contains, for each member, theelectronic receipt information of various companies running stores,which is received from the electronic receipt server 3.

The control program 43 c is for controlling the electronic receiptmanagement area 43 a and the like. The customer management area 43 d isused to manage customer data of the customer who carries the portableterminal 7.

Next, the electronic receipt management area 43 a is described withreference to FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, the electronic receipt management area43 a contains the electronic receipt information generated in thetransaction, with respect to each transaction. The electronic receiptmanagement area 43 a includes an SRID column 43 a 1 for storing the SRIDserving as the terminal code for identifying the portable terminal 7 towhich the electronic receipt is to be sent, and an electronic receiptinformation column 43 a 2. The SRID column 43 a 1 stores the SRID readby the code reading unit 15 of the POS terminal 1. The electronicreceipt information column 43 a 2 stores the electronic receiptinformation obtained by converting the receipt information of onetransaction into an electronic receipt with respect to each transaction,in association with the SRID. Thus, in the present embodiment, theelectronic receipt information contains the SRID stored in the SRIDcolumn 43 a 1 and the electronic receipt information stored in theelectronic receipt information column 43 a 2.

Next, the customer management area 43 d is described in detail withreference to FIG. 7. The customer management area 43 d stores the storecustomer ID for identifying the loyalty card issued by each store inassociation with the SRID for identifying the portable terminal 7. InFIG. 7, the customer management area 43 d includes an SRID column 43 d1, a member information column 43 d 2, a store customer ID column 43 d 3of an A store, a store customer ID column 43 d 4 of a B store, and astore customer ID column 43 d 5 of a C store. In the present embodiment,as one example, the store customer IDs of three stores (A store, B storeand C store) are managed.

The SRID column 43 d 1 stores the SRID for identifying the portableterminal 7 to which the electronic receipt is to be sent. The memberinformation column 43 d 2 stores the member information (including theaddress of the portable terminal 7 and the information of the membersuch as the name, address, phone number, family structure, preference,and purchase history) of the member identified from the store customerID or the SRID.

The store customer ID column 43 d 3 stores the store customer ID for Astore for identifying the loyalty card issued by the A store and carriedby the customer identified from the SRID, together with the store codefor identifying the A store. The store customer ID column 43 d 4 storesthe store customer ID for B store for identifying the loyalty cardissued by the B store and carried by the customer identified from theSRID, together with the store code for identifying the B store. Thestore customer ID column 43 d 5 stores the store customer ID for C storefor identifying the loyalty card issued by the C store and carried bythe customer identified from the SRID, together with the store code foridentifying the C store.

Herein, the store customer ID for A store, the store customer ID for Bstore, and the store customer ID for C store are different from eachother although these are all correlated to the same SRID. Further, the Astore, the B store, and the C store may be different stores of the samecompany or stores of different companies.

Next, hardware configuration of the portable terminal 7 is describedwith reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8,the portable terminal 7 includes a control unit 71 for controllingvarious operations and each unit of the portable terminal 7. The controlunit 71 includes a CPU, an ROM for storing various programs and data, anRAM for storing various programs that temporarily stores data or storesdata in a rewritable manner, an RTC that indicates the current date andtime, and the like.

An operation unit 72 is connected to a display unit 73 through a busline 76. The operation unit 72 includes various operation keys for anoperator (customer) to carryout an input operation, and a pointingdevice. The display unit 73, which is, for example, a liquid crystaldisplay and the like, displays various kinds of information such aselectronic receipt information and the like. The display unit 73 may bea touch panel, and in this case, the touch panel functions as theoperation unit 72.

The control unit 71 is connected to a communication I/F 74 through thebus line 76, and can be connected to the network N5 through thecommunication I/F 74.

The control unit 71 is connected to a storage unit 75 through the busline 76. In addition to a Web browser for browsing various kinds ofinformation (contents) disclosed on the Web, the storage unit 75 furtherstores an electronic receipt corresponding program. 75 a for receivingthe electronic receipt information from the electronic receiptmanagement server 4, an electronic receipt browsing program 75 b forbrowsing the received receipt information, and an SRID storage section75 c for storing the SRID for identifying the portable terminal 7 towhich the electronic receipt information is sent. The SRID stored in theSRID storage section 75 c is displayed on the display unit 73 in theform of a code symbol by logging the portable terminal 7 in and carryingout an authentication. The POS terminal 1 reads the code symboldisplayed on the display unit 73 with the code reading unit 15 to inputthe SRID in the POS terminal 1.

The SRID, which is not limited to be read as a code symbol, may also beread magnetically or electrically by the POS terminal 1. Further, theSRID may be read from a member card and the like other than the portableterminal 7. The customer ID for identifying the customer other than theSRID may be read as well. In this case, the SRID stored in thecorresponding electronic receipt management server 4 is acquired basedon the read customer ID.

The control unit 71 is connected to a code reading unit 77 through thebus line 76. The code reading unit 77 reads a two-dimensional code. Thetwo-dimensional code containing the store code for identifying the storeis prepared near the POS terminal 1 or the entrance of the store P1. Thecode reading unit 77 of the portable terminal 7 scans the attachedtwo-dimensional code through a camera function (not shown) and reads thestore code contained in the two-dimensional code.

Though it is exemplified in the present embodiment that thetwo-dimensional code is read by the code reading unit 77 of the portableterminal 7 to input the store code, the present invention is not limitedto this. For example, the store code may be input in the portableterminal 7 in the following ways.

-   -   1) Receiving, with the portable terminal 7, a signal containing        the store code sent from the POS terminal 1 or a device near the        entrance of the store through a well-known wireless        communication technology to input the store code. The wireless        communication technology is preferably a near-distance wireless        communication such as NFC (Near Field Communication), infrared        ray, Bluetooth (registered trademark) and the like, but may also        be other wireless communication technology.    -   2) The portable terminal 7 including a GPS (Global Positioning        System) function identifies the location thereof, and identifies        the store from the address information of the store and then        extracts the store code of the identified store from the        pre-stored store codes.    -   3) Collecting the sound of a particular range emitted from the        POS terminal 1 or a device near the entrance of the store with a        microphone (not shown) of the portable terminal 7; the portable        terminal 7 extracts the store code of the store identified from        the collected sound from a plurality of store codes stored in        advance.

Next, the control processing executed by each unit of the firstembodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 9-14.

First, the control processing, which is carried out when the controlunit 11 of the POS terminal 1 executes the control program 17 a and theelectronic receipt generation program 17 b, is described with referenceto the flowchart shown in FIG. 9.

In FIG. 9, the control unit 11 of the POS terminal 1 determines whetheror not the SRID stored in the portable terminal 7 is input through thecode reading unit 15 (ACT S11). If it is determined that the SRID isinput (YES in ACT S11), the control unit 11 stores the input SRID in theSRID storage section 11 a 1 in the RAM 11 a of the control unit 11 (ACTS12). Then the control unit 11 returns to ACT S11.

If it is determined that the SRID is not input (NO in ACT S11), thecontrol unit 11 determines whether or not the store customer ID is inputthrough the code reading unit 15 (ACT S13). If it is determined that thestore customer ID is input (YES in ACT S13), the control unit 11 storesthe input store customer ID in the store customer ID storage section 11a 4 in the RAM 11 a of the control unit 11 (ACT S14). Then the controlunit 11 returns to ACT S11.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the store customer ID is notinput (NO in ACT S13), the control unit 11 determines whether or not thecode symbol attached to the commodity is read and the commodity code isinput through the code reading unit 15 (ACT S21). If it is determinedthat the commodity code is input (YES in ACT S21), the control unit 11executes commodity registration processing based on the commodity code(ACT S22). Then the control unit 11 returns to ACT S11.

The commodity registration processing refers to searching the commoditymaster file (not shown) stored in the storage unit 17 using the inputcommodity code as a key, reading the commodity information (such ascommodity code, commodity name, unit price, attribution information andthe like) stored in the commodity master file in association with theinput commodity code, and storing the read commodity information in thecommodity information storage section 11 a 2 in the RAM 11 a.

If it is determined that the commodity code is not input (NO in ACTS21), the control unit 11 determines whether or not the closing key 121is operated (ACT S31). If it is determined that the closing key 121 isoperated (YES in ACT S31), the control unit 11 executes the settlementprocessing of the transaction (ACT S32). The settlement processingrefers to calculating the total price based on the commodity informationstored in the commodity information section, displaying the calculatedtotal price on the display unit 14, and then terminating the transactionupon payment in various methods.

Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the store customerID is stored in the store customer ID storage section 11 a 4 (ACT S33).If it is determined that the store customer ID is stored in the storecustomer ID storage section 11 a 4 (YES in ACT S33), the control unit 11gives reward points based on the total price calculated in ACT S32 (ACTS34). Specifically, the control unit 11 calculates the reward pointsearned by the transaction based on the total price and a standard amountper reward point. Then the control unit 11 sends the calculated rewardpoints to the store server 2 functioning as a point server.

Next, the control unit 11 generates the unstructured receipt informationto be printed on a receipt paper based on the commodity information(such as commodity name, unit price, settlement amount and the like) ofthe transaction (ACT S35). When the SRID is stored in the SRID storagesection 11 a 1, the SRID is included in the unstructured receiptinformation in ACT S35. If the store customer ID is not stored in thestore customer ID storage section 11 a 4 (NO in ACT S33), the controlunit 11 executes the processing in ACT S35 directly without executingthe reward point giving processing in ACT S34.

Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not it is necessary togenerate the electronic receipt information based on the receiptinformation (ACT S36). If the SRID is contained in the generated receiptinformation, the control unit 11 determines that it is necessary togenerate the electronic receipt information.

If it is necessary to generate the electronic receipt information (YESin ACT S36), the control unit 11 executes the electronic receiptgeneration program 17 b to convert the unstructured receipt informationgenerated in ACT S35 to the structured electronic receipt information(ACT S37). As shown by the example in FIG. 6, the SRID is contained inthe generated electronic receipt information. Then the control unit 11sends the generated electronic receipt information containing thegenerated SRID to the electronic receipt server 3 (ACT S38).

Next, the control unit 11 deletes the SRID stored in the SRID storagesection 11 a 1 (ACT S39). Then, the control unit 11 cumulatively storesthe commodity information stored in the commodity information storagesection 11 a 2 in the sales information storage section 11 a 3 (ACTS40). Then, the control unit 11 deletes the commodity information storedin the commodity information storage section 11 a 2 (ACT S41).Sequentially, the control unit 11 terminates the present processing. Onthe other hand, in ACT S36, if it is not necessary to generate theelectronic receipt information, the control unit 11 controls theprinting unit 13 to issue a paper receipt on which the receiptinformation is printed (ACT S42).

Next, the flow of electronic receipt management processing carried outwhen the control unit 31 of the electronic receipt server 3 executes thecontrol program 33 b is described with reference to the flowchart shownin FIG. 10.

The control unit 31 of the electronic receipt server 3 determineswhether or not the electronic receipt information sent from the POSterminal 1 in ACT S38 is received through the communication I/F 32 (ACTS51). If it is determined that the electronic receipt information isreceived (YES in ACT S51), the received information is stored in theelectronic receipt management area 33 a of the storage unit 33 as theelectronic receipt information of the corresponding company (ACT S52).Then the control unit 31 sends the electronic receipt information storedin ACT S52 to the electronic receipt management server 4 (ACT S53), andthen the processing in ACT S51 is carried out repeatedly for differentelectronic receipt information.

Next, the control processing carried out when the control unit 41 of theelectronic receipt management server 4 executes the electronic receiptgeneration program 43 b and the control program 43 c, is described withreference to the functional block diagram shown in FIG. 11 and theflowchart shown in FIG. 12.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the electronic receipt generation program 43 band the control program 43 c are executed by the electronic receiptmanagement server 4, modules including a receiving module 411, anextraction module 412, and a sending module 413 are generated. Aspractical hardware, the CPU of the control unit 41 reads and executesthe control program 43 c from the storage unit 43 to generate thereceiving module 411, the extraction module 412, and the sending module413.

The receiving module 411 receives first customer identificationinformation and store identification information from the portableterminal device.

The extraction module 412 searches the storage unit to extract secondcustomer identification information corresponding to the received firstcustomer identification information and the store identificationinformation.

The sending module 413 sends the extracted second customeridentification information to the portable terminal 7.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the control processing carried outby the electronic receipt management server 4. In FIG. 12, the controlunit 41 determines whether or not the electronic receipt information isreceived from the electronic receipt server 3 (ACT S71). If it isdetermined that the electronic receipt information is received (YES inACT S71), the control unit 41 stores the received SRID in the SRIDcolumn 43 a 1, and then stores the corresponding electronic receiptinformation in the electronic receipt information column 43 a 2 (ACTS72). Then the control unit 41 notifies the portable terminal 7associated with the address stored in the electronic receipt informationcolumn 43 a 2 that there is the electronic receipt information available(ACT S73). Then the control unit 41 returns to ACT S71.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the electronic receiptinformation is not received from the electronic receipt server 3 (NO inACT S71), the control unit 41 determines whether or not there is anelectronic receipt information inquiry sent from the portable terminal 7(ACT S81). The electronic receipt information inquiry is sent byoperating the portable terminal that receives the notification in ACTS73 (detailed description is given below with reference to FIG. 14).

If it is determined that there is an electronic receipt informationinquiry (YES in ACT S81), the control unit 41 extracts the electronicreceipt information corresponding to the inquiry from the electronicreceipt management area 43 a (ACT S82). Then, the control unit 41 sends,using the address contained in the extracted electronic receiptinformation, the electronic receipt information to the portable terminal7 associated with the address (ACT S83). Then the control unit 41returns to ACT S71.

On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no electronicreceipt information inquiry (NO in ACT S81), the control unit 41(receiving module 411) determines whether or not the SRID and the storecode for identifying the store (sent in ACT S110 in FIG. 14) arereceived from the portable terminal 7 (ACT S91). If it is determinedthat the SRID and the store code are received (YES in ACT S91), thecontrol unit 11 determines whether or not the store customer IDcorresponding to the received SRID and store code is stored (ACT S92).Here, the customer management area 43 d is referred to using thereceived SRID and store code, and if the store code identifies the Astore, it is determined whether or not the store customer ID is storedin the store customer ID column 43 d 3 of the A store. If the store codeidentifies the B store, it is determined whether or not the storecustomer ID is stored in the store customer ID column 43 d 4 of the Bstore. Further, if the store code identifies the C store, it isdetermined whether or not the store customer ID is stored in the storecustomer ID column 43 d 5 of the C store.

If it is determined that the store customer ID is stored (YES in ACTS92), the control unit 11 (extraction module 412) reads the storecustomer ID from the customer management area 43 d (ACT S93). The readstore customer ID is the information converted into the code symbol.Then the control unit 11 (sending module 413) sends the code symbolinformation of the read store customer ID to the portable terminal 7(ACT S94). Then, the control unit 11 returns to ACT S71. The processingof converting the store customer ID into the code symbol may be carriedout by the electronic receipt management server 4 or the portableterminal 7.

On the other hand, if it is determined in ACT S91 that the SRID and thestore code are not received (NO in ACT S91), or if it is determined inACT S92 that the store customer ID corresponding to the received SRIDand store code is not stored (NO in ACT S92), the control unit 11returns to ACT S71.

According to the first embodiment, the electronic receipt managementserver 4 reads, based on the received SRID and store information, thestore customer ID (that is, the store customer ID for identifying thecustomer of the store) for identifying the loyalty card that can be usedin the store and sends the read store customer ID to the portableterminal 7. The portable terminal 7 displays the barcode correspondingto the received store customer ID on the display unit 73. As a result,the portable terminal 7 receiving the store customer ID can display thestore customer ID. Since the portable terminal 7 can display thecustomer identification information in the store instead of the SRID,the POS terminal 1 which reads the displayed information can give rewardpoints to the customer identified from the store customer ID.

Next, the flow of the electronic receipt reception processing carriedout when the control unit 71 of the portable terminal 7 executes theelectronic receipt corresponding program 75 a, and the flow of theelectronic receipt browsing processing carried out when the control unit71 of the portable terminal 7 executes the electronic receipt browsingprogram 75 b, are described with reference to the functional blockdiagram shown in FIG. 13 and the flowchart shown in FIG. 14.

As shown in FIG. 13, when the electronic receipt corresponding program75 a and the electronic receipt browsing program 75 b are executed bythe portable terminal 7, modules including a first storage module 711,an input module 712, a sending module 713, a second customeridentification information display module 714, and a first customeridentification information display module 715 are generated. Aspractical hardware, the CPU of the control unit 71 reads and executesthe electronic receipt corresponding program 75 a and the electronicreceipt browsing program 75 b from the storage unit 75 to generate thefirst storage module 711, the input module 712, the sending module 713,the second customer identification information display module 714, andthe first customer identification information display module 715.

The first storage module 711 stores the first customer identificationinformation for identifying the customer.

The input module 712 inputs the store identification information foridentifying the store.

The sending module 713 sends the input store identification informationto the information processing apparatus together with the stored firstcustomer identification information.

The second customer identification information display module 714displays the second customer identification information different fromthe first customer identification information for identifying thecustomer in response to the store identification information receivedfrom the information processing apparatus corresponding to the sendingof the store identification information and the first customeridentification information.

The first customer identification information display module 715displays the first customer identification information.

Next, the flow of the electronic receipt reception processing carriedout when the control unit 71 of the portable terminal 7 executes theelectronic receipt corresponding program 75 a and the flow of theelectronic receipt browsing processing carried out when the control unit71 of the portable terminal 7 executes the electronic receipt browsingprogram 75 b, are described with reference to FIG. 14.

As shown in FIG. 14, the control unit 71 determines whether or not auser logs in to a system (ACT S101). The electronic receipt cannot bereceived and the store customer ID cannot be displayed until the userlogs in. Thus, the control unit 71 waits until the user logs in toreceive the electronic receipt and display the store customer ID (NO inACT S101). During the waiting period, the control unit 71 can executeother processing. If the user logs in (YES in ACT S101), the controlunit 71 (first customer identification information display module 715)displays the barcode corresponding to the SRID stored in the SRIDstorage section 75 c on the display unit 73 (ACT S102).

FIG. 15 shows an example of the portable terminal 7 on which a barcodeof the SRID is displayed. In FIG. 15, a barcode 78 a indicating the SRIDis displayed on the display unit 73 of the portable terminal 7. The POSterminal 1 can identify the portable terminal 7 by reading the barcode78 a with the code reading unit 15 and decoding the barcode 78 a.

Next, the control unit 71 determines whether or not the electronicreceipt management server 4 sends a notification that the electronicreceipt information is received from the electronic receipt server 3(ACT S103). If it is determined that the notification is received (YESin ACT S103), the control unit 71 displays a message indicating thereception, on the display unit 73 (ACT S104). The message is, forexample, “the electronic receipt of the customer is received”.

If it is determined that the notification is not received (NO in ACTS103), the control unit 71 determines whether or not the request for theelectronic receipt information is operated (ACT S105). The user ofportable terminal 7 who saw the notification operates the operation unit72 to send the request for the electronic receipt information. If it isdetermined that the request is operated (YES in ACT S105), the controlunit sends the request for the electronic receipt to the electronicreceipt management server 4 together with the SRID stored in the SRIDstorage section 75 c for identifying the portable terminal 7 (ACT S106).The electronic receipt management server 4 that has received the requestexecutes the processing in ACT S81-ACT S83 in FIG. 12 to send theelectronic receipt information to the portable terminal 7.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the request for theelectronic receipt information is not operated (NO in ACT S105), thecontrol unit 71 determines whether or not the electronic receiptinformation is received from the electronic receipt management server 4(ACT S107). If it is determined that the electronic receipt informationis received (YES in ACT S107), the control unit 71 displays the receivedelectronic receipt information on the display unit 73 (ACT S108). Ifonly the electronic receipt information is received, the control unit 71displays the electronic receipt information only.

If it is determined that the electronic receipt information is notreceived (NO in ACT S107), the control unit 71 (input module 712)determines whether or not the store code is input by reading thetwo-dimensional code attached the POS terminal 1 or displayed near theentrance of the store P1 by the portable terminal 7 (ACT S109). If it isdetermined that the store code is input (YES in ACT S109), the controlunit 71 (sending module 713) sends the input store code and the SRIDstored in the SRID storage section 75 c to the electronic receiptmanagement server 4 (ACT S110). The electronic receipt management server4 receiving the store code and the SRID executes the processing in ACTS91-ACT S94 to send information of a code symbol corresponding to thestore customer ID, to the portable terminal 7.

If it is determined that the store code is not input (NO in ACT S109),the control unit 71 determines whether or not the store customer ID inthe form of a code symbol is received (ACT S111). If it is determinedthat the store customer ID in the form of a code symbol is received (YESin ACT S111), the control unit 71 (second customer identificationinformation display module 714) displays the barcode of the receivedstore customer ID on the display unit 73 (ACT S112). In this case, thecontrol unit 71 displays the barcode of the store customer ID instead ofthe barcode of the SRID displayed in ACT S102.

FIG. 16 shows an example of the portable terminal 7 on which the barcodeof the store customer ID is displayed. In FIG. 16, a barcode 78 b of thestore customer ID is displayed on the display unit 73 of the portableterminal 7. The POS terminal 1 can identifies the store customer ID ofthe loyalty card owned by the customer who carries the portable terminal7 in the store by reading the barcode 78 b with the code reading unit 15thereof and decoding the barcode 78 b. Then the POS terminal 1 executesa processing for giving reward points to the customer identified by theread store customer ID. Further, the display unit 73 of the portableterminal 7 includes total reward points 78 d earned at the store, forwhich the customer owns the store customer ID.

If it is determined that the store customer ID is not received (NO inACT S111), the control unit 71 determines whether or not a “returnbutton” (not shown) displayed on the portable terminal 7 is selected(ACT S113). If it is determined that the button is selected (YES in ACTS113), the control unit 71 displays the barcode corresponding to theSRID stored in the SRID storage section 75 c (ACT S114). Further, if itis determined that the “return button” is not selected (NO in ACT S113),the control unit 71 returns to ACT S103.

In the present embodiment, when the display processing in ACT S112 isbeing executed, the barcode corresponding to the SRID disappear and thebarcode corresponding to the store customer ID is displayed instead;however, it is not limited to this. For example, both the barcode of theSRID and the barcode of the store customer ID may be displayed.

FIG. 17 shows an example of the portable terminal 7 on which both thebarcode corresponding to both the SRID and the store customer ID isdisplayed. In FIG. 17, a barcode 78 c displayed on the display unit 73includes a barcode portion 78 c 1 corresponding to the SRID, a barcodeportion 78 c 2 corresponding to the store customer ID, and a delimiterportion 78 c 3 (a part indicated by (99)) functioning as a boundarybetween the barcode portion 78 c 1 corresponding to the SRID and thebarcode portion 78 c 2 corresponding to the store customer ID.

The POS terminal 1 which read the barcode 78 c recognizes the barcodeportion 78 c 1 at the left side of the delimiter portion 78 c 3 as thebarcode portion corresponding to the SRID and decodes the SRID from thebarcode. The POS terminal 1 further recognizes the barcode portion 78 c2 at the right side of the delimiter portion 78 c 3 as the barcodeportion corresponding to the store customer ID and decodes the storecustomer ID from the barcode. When the portable terminal 7 carries outsuch a display processing, in this way, the POS terminal 1 can identifyboth the SRID and the store customer ID from the read barcode.

As stated above, according to the first embodiment, the portableterminal 7 sends, if the store code is input, the store code to theelectronic receipt management server 4 together with the stored SRID.The electronic receipt management server 4 reads the store customer ID(that is, the store customer ID for identifying the customer of thestore) for identifying the loyalty card that can be used in the storebased on the received SRID and the store code and then sends the storecustomer ID to the portable terminal 7. The portable terminal 7 displaysthe received store customer ID on the display unit 73. That is, theportable terminal 7 displays the customer identification information inthe store, therefore, the POS terminal 1 which read the display can givereward points to the identified customer based on the store customer ID.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is described withreference to FIGS. 18-20. The second embodiment is different from thefirst embodiment in terms of the configuration of the portable terminal7. The other configuration according to the second embodiment is thesame as the first embodiment. FIG. 18 illustrates hardware configurationof the portable terminal 7 according to the second embodiment. In thedescription of FIG. 18, only points different from the portable terminalshown in FIG. 8 are described. The other points that are not describedare the same as those shown in FIG. 8. In FIG. 18, the portable terminal7 includes a customer management area 75 d. The customer management area75 d is the same as the customer management area 43 d shown in FIG. 5.

Next, a flow of the electronic receipt reception processing carried outwhen the control unit 71 of the portable terminal 7 executes theelectronic receipt corresponding program 75 a and a flow of theelectronic receipt browsing processing carried out when the control unit71 of the portable terminal 7 executes the electronic receipt browsingprogram 75 b are described with reference to the functional blockdiagram shown in FIG. 19 and the flowchart shown in FIG. 20.

As shown in FIG. 19, when the electronic receipt corresponding program75 a and the electronic receipt browsing program 75 b are executed bythe portable terminal 7, modules including a second storage module 716,an input module 717, an extraction module 718, a second customeridentification information display module 719, and a first customeridentification information display module 720, are generated. Aspractical hardware, the CPU of the control unit 71 reads and executesthe electronic receipt corresponding program 75 a and the electronicreceipt browsing program 75 b from the storage unit 75 to generate thesecond storage module 716, the input module 717, the extraction module718, the second customer identification information display module 719,and the first customer identification information display module 720.

The second storage module 716 stores the store identificationinformation for identifying the store and the second customeridentification information for identifying the customer of the store inan associated manner.

The input module 717 inputs the store identification information foridentifying the store.

The extraction module 718 extracts the second customer identificationinformation stored in association with the input store identificationinformation.

The second customer identification information display module 719displays the extracted second customer identification information.

The first customer identification information display module 720displays the first customer identification information.

Next, the flow of the electronic receipt reception processing carriedout when the control unit 71 of the portable terminal 7 executes theelectronic receipt corresponding program 75 a and the flow of theelectronic receipt browsing processing carried out when the control unit71 of the portable terminal 7 executes the electronic receipt browsingprogram 75 b are described with reference to FIG. 20. Further, in FIG.20, the same description as FIG. 14 is omitted or simplified.

In FIG. 20, the processing executed by the control unit 71 in ACTS121-ACT S129 is the same as the processing in ACT S101-ACT S109 in FIG.14, thus, the description thereof is omitted. In ACT S129, if it isdetermined that the store code is input (YES in ACT S129), the controlunit 71 checks the customer management area 75 d and determines whetheror not the store customer ID exists, based on the SRID stored in theSRID storage section 75 c and the input store code (ACT S130). If it isdetermined that the store customer ID exists (YES in ACT S130), thecontrol unit 71 (extraction module 718) extracts the store customer IDfrom the customer management area 75 d (ACT S131). The control unit 71(second customer identification information display module 719) displaysthe barcode of the read store customer ID on the display unit 73 (ACTS132).

If it is determined that the store code is not input (NO in ACT S129),the control unit 71 executes the processing in ACT S133 and ACT S134,which is the same as the processing in ACT S113 and ACT S114 in FIG. 14.

According to the second embodiment, the portable terminal 7 identifies,if the store code is input, the store customer ID based on the storedSRID and displays the store customer ID on the display unit 73. That is,the portable terminal 7 displays the customer identification informationin the store instead of the SRID, thus, the POS terminal 1 which readthe display can give reward points to the identified customer based onthe store customer ID.

Further, according to the second embodiment, the portable terminal 7itself extracts and displays the store customer ID without requestingthe electronic receipt management server 4 to send the store customerID, thus, the store customer ID can be extracted and displayed even if,for example, any failure occurs in the network N5 between the portableterminal 7 and the electronic receipt management server 4.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the invention. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended tocover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the invention.

For example, in the embodiments described above, the SRID foridentifying the customer who enjoys the electronic receipt service isexemplified as the first customer identification information, and themember ID for identifying the customer who enjoys the reward pointservice is exemplified as the second customer identificationinformation; however, the first customer identification information andthe second customer identification information are not limited to theseIDs. Further, a loyalty card is exemplified as the member medium issuedby the store; however, no specific limitation is given to the categoryof the card as long as it is a card issued by the store.

Further, the programs executed by the electronic receipt managementserver 4 and the portable terminal 7 according to the embodiments may berecorded in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium such asCD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) and thelike in the form of installable or executable file.

Moreover, the programs executed by the electronic receipt managementserver 4 and the portable terminal 7 according to the embodiments may bestored in a computer connected to a network such as internet, anddownloaded via the network. Further, the programs executed by theelectronic receipt management server 4 and the portable terminal 7according to the embodiments may also be provided or distributed via anetwork such as the Internet.

The programs executed by the electronic receipt management server 4 andthe portable terminal 7 according to the embodiments may also beinstalled in the ROM in advance.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile terminal of a user, comprising: adisplay device; an imaging device; a memory that stores: an electronicreceipt user ID, and a plurality of member IDs each associated with astore code; and a processor configured to when a user logs into themobile terminal, encode the electronic receipt user ID into a firstsymbol and control the display device to display an image of the firstsymbol, and when an image of a second symbol displayed in a store andindicating a store code is acquired by the imaging device, decode thesecond symbol into the store code and retrieve from the memory one ofthe member IDs associated with the store code, generate an image of athird symbol indicating said one of the member IDs, and control thedisplay device to display the generated image of the third symbolinstead of the image of the first symbol, wherein a point-of-sale (POS)terminal of the store uses: the image of the first symbol to generateinformation for an electronic receipt, the information including theelectronic receipt user ID, and the generated image of the third symbolto identify the user as a member of the store.
 2. The mobile terminalaccording to claim 1, wherein upon receipt of a notification indicatingthat the electronic receipt is received, from a server via a firstnetwork before receiving the electronic receipt, the processor controlsthe display device to display the notification.
 3. The mobile terminalaccording to claim 2, wherein the server is an electronic receiptmanagement server configured to receive the electronic receipt from astore server via a second network that is different from the firstnetwork.
 4. The mobile terminal according to claim 3, wherein theelectronic receipt is transmitted from the store server via anelectronic receipt server configured to communicate with both theelectronic receipt management server and the store server.
 5. The mobileterminal according to claim 2, further comprising: a network interface,wherein upon receipt of a predetermined input by a user via an inputdevice, the processor controls the network interface to transmit arequest for the electronic receipt to the server.
 6. The mobile terminalaccording to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to,upon receipt of the electronic receipt from a server, control thedisplay device to display the electronic receipt, and the image of thethird symbol is displayed in a screen through which a request for theelectronic receipt can be sent.
 7. A mobile terminal according to claim1, wherein the processor is further configured to, after retrieving saidone of the member IDs: generate an image of a symbol indicating bothsaid one of the member IDs and the electronic receipt user ID, andcontrol the display device to display the generated image.
 8. Anon-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing amobile terminal of a user to execute a method comprising: storing in amemory: an electronic receipt user ID, and a plurality of member IDseach associated with a store code; when a user logs into the mobileterminal, encoding the electronic receipt user ID into a first symboland displaying an image of the first symbol; when an image of a secondsymbol displayed in a store and indicating a store code is acquired,decoding the second symbol into the store code and retrieving from thememory one of the member IDs associated with the store code; generatingan image of a third symbol indicating said one of the member IDs; anddisplaying the generated image of the third symbol instead of the imageof the first symbol, wherein a point-of-sale (POS) terminal of the storeuses: the image of the first symbol to generate information for anelectronic receipt, the information including the electronic receiptuser ID, and the generated image of the third symbol to identify theuser as a member of the store.
 9. The computer readable medium accordingto claim 8, wherein the method further comprises: upon receipt of anotification indicating that the electronic receipt is received, from aserver via a first network before receiving the electronic receipt,displaying the notification.
 10. The computer readable medium accordingto claim 9, wherein the server is an electronic receipt managementserver configured to receive the electronic receipt from a store servervia a second network that is different from the first network.
 11. Thecomputer readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the electronicreceipt is transmitted from the store server via an electronic receiptserver configured to communicate with both the electronic receiptmanagement server and the store server.
 12. The computer readable mediumaccording to claim 8, wherein the method further comprises, upon receiptof an electronic receipt from a server via a wireless network interface,displaying the electronic receipt on a display, and the image of thethird symbol is displayed in a screen through which a request for theelectronic receipt can be sent.
 13. A method performed by a mobileterminal of a user, comprising: storing in a memory: an electronicreceipt user ID, and a plurality of member IDs each associated with astore code; when a user logs into the mobile terminal, encoding theelectronic receipt user ID into a first symbol and displaying an imageof the first symbol; when an image of a second symbol displayed in astore and indicating a store code is acquired, decoding the secondsymbol into the store code and retrieving from the memory one of themember IDs associated with the store code; generating an image of athird symbol indicating said one of the member IDs; and displaying theimage of the third symbol instead of the image of the first symbol,wherein a point-of-sale (POS) terminal of the store uses: the image ofthe first symbol to generate information for an electronic receipt, theinformation including the electronic receipt user ID, and the generatedimage of the third symbol to identify the user as a member of the store.14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising: upon receiptof an electronic receipt from a server via a wireless network interface,displaying the electronic receipt on a display, wherein the image of thethird symbol is displayed in a screen through which a request for theelectronic receipt can be sent.